Computing platform-scale.



No. 725,468. 'PATENTED APR. 14,'1903.

. J. H. MILBURN.

COMPUTING PLATFORM SCALE.

APPLICATION FILED DEO. 8, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

.dtlorn eys.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN HOGARTH MILBURN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

COMPUTING PLATFORM-SCALE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 725,468, dated April 14, 1903-.

,Application filed December 8, 1902. Serial No. 134,290. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN l-IOGARTH MIL- BURN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county ofv Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Computing-Scales, of which the following is;

a specication, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates more specifically to computing platform-scales, and has particular reference to certain improvements in the construction, arrangement, and operation of different parts, all as more fully hereinafter described, and specifically pointed out in the claims. A

In the drawings,Figure lis a sectional front elevation of my improved computing-scale. Fig. 2 is a section thereof on line fr Figs. 3 and l are detachedseotional elevations of the indicating sliding block on the price-bar of the computing-beam, and Fig. 5 is a cross- 4section of said indicating sliding block.

A A represent the supporting-pillars, rising from the base of the frame, the latter with the platform and load supporting system thereof being omitted from the drawings.

Bis a shelf or cap supported' on top of the pillars.

C is the computing-beam, composed of two.

bars, the one on top being what is known as the value-bar and carrying the indicating slide-block D, and the one below being the price-per-poundbeam and carrying the indicating-block E.

F is the support yupon which the comput-v ing-beam is fulcrurned.

G is an overhead frame composed of two vertical side bars supported upon the ends of the shelf and of a horizontal top baruniting them. H is a tare-beam fulcrumed below the to bar of the frame above the computing-beam` ends of said scale-beam and tare-beam to gether.

L is a horizontal draft-bar extending between the pillars of the frame below the scalebeam J and connected at its opposite ends by means of vertical draft-rods NA to a suitable platform-supportin g system, (not shown), whereby the load will exert at all times an equal pull upon both ends of the draft-bars and maintain the draft-bar L in a horizontal position. The draft-bar L and scale-beam J are pivotally connected by means of thelinks M, pivotally secured to the forked arm of the scale-beam and engaging with a knife-bar d, transversely secured to the draft-bar.

O` is a sliding block or carriage movable upon the draft-bar L, the latter being formed with a suitable track-rail a, upon which the slidibng block is supported by small travelers The sliding block E is coupled with the carriage O and is normally locked in position against movement in the following manner: The price-per-pound bar is notched upon its upper edge, and the sliding block E has an interior portion c, composed of two united halves, forming between them a vertical slot for the price-bar to pass through. This interior portion is provided with a bearing portion c', which normally rests on top of the price-bar and is provided with one or more teeth upon its under side to engage and interlock with the notches in the price bar to prevent the sliding block E from being shifted thereon. This interior portion c carries knife-edge trunnions e, which pivotally -engage with the arms of a yoke f, the lower end of whichA is pivotally secured between the ears g, formed onthe sliding carriage. The interior portion c slides within a vertical Vframe 77 also made of two united halves and adapted to form a vertical guide-bearing for the interior portion. The frame 72, is provided ontop with ears t', which slidingly engage with a steady-rod j, rigidly secured to the price-bar, above the same, and at its lower end it has a dependent lug 70, formed with a notch Zin the center of a V-shaped depression in the under side of the lug and adapted to freely engage with the end of a linger P, formed with or secured upon the carriage O.

ICO

The guide-frame h extends with the portion h over the top of the interior portion c, and between this portion h' and the portion c are interposed two small springs m, adapted to exert tension upon the portion c to hold it in engagement with the notches of the pricebar. The interior portion c, together with the frame h, are inclosed in a housing of sheet metal n, suitably secured to `the frame 7i, without interfering` with the free movement of the portion c within the frame.

Operating in connection with the aforedescribed parts there is an arrest provided for the beam J, which consists of an eccentric Q, mounted upon a shaft journaled in bearings p and carrying an eccentric-strap Q', with a depending strap-rod Q2 passing through vertical guide-bearings in the shelf and carrying at its lower end, adjustably secured thereto, a rest q, projecting beneath the free end of the beam J. The shaft which carries the eccentric is provided with a handle R in suitable position for manipulating it by hand,wherebyin one position of said handle the eccentric will raise the rest q beneath the free end of the beam and prevent the beam J, and with it the horizontal draft-bar L, from vibrating.

As long as the computing-beam and the horizontal draft-bar are free to vibrate together the sliding block E is locked in engagement with the price-bar and cannot be shifted from its position, at least not by any such force as might arise from a jar or from inadvertence or accident. If either the computing-beam or the draft-bar is, however, held from vibrating, it will take but a slight lateral pressure against the sliding block to shove it in any desired position along the price-bar. Thus if the horizontal draft-bar is prevented from vibrating by the means above described the portion c' of the sliding block which is interposed between the pricebeam and the springs m becomes a .fixed abutment for the springs m, and by pressing against the sliding block the springs fm, will be compressed and the price-bar depressed and freed from its engagement with the part c, thus permitting the adjustment of the sliding block E into any desired position.

It is obvious that the tare-beam may be used for weighing independently of the computing-beam, and my construction,which locates the tare-beam above the computingbeam,where it is in full view, presents, therefore, an advantage over the usual construction.

For weighing any load above the capacity of the sliding block on the tare-beam counterpoise-weights are provided for use in connection with the balancing-counterpoise S, suspended from the end of the beam J.

My construction places the beam J and the horizontal draft-bar below the shelf, with only the computing-beam and the tare-beam above the shelf, and thus the height of the scale is less than that of scales of like character.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim isl. In platform computing-scales, the combination of a horizontal draft-bar, a counterbalancing-beam fulcrumed above said draftbar and from which said draft-bar is suspended, a computing-beam fulcrumed above said. beam and provided with value and price bars having indicating slide-blocks thereon, a sliding block on the horizontal draft -bar coupled with the sliding block on the pricebar, a tare-beam above the computing-beam and a coupling-rod connecting said tare-beam with the counterbalancing-beam.

2. In platform computing-scales, the combination with the supporting-frame and shelf thereof, of a 'horizontal draft-bar extending below the shelf, a counterbalancing-beam fulcrumedintermediately between the shelf and draft-bar and from which said draft-bar is suspended, a computingbeam fulcrumed above the shelf and provided with value and price bars with indicating sliding blocks thereon, a sliding block on the horizontal draft-bar coupled with the sliding block on the price-bar, and a tare-beam above the computing-beam and coupled with the counterbalancing-beam.

3. In platform computing-scales, the combination with the shelf and its supportingpillars at'the ends thereof, of a horizontal draft-bar extending between the pillars, a sliding block thereon, a counterbalancingbeam fulcrumed beneath the shelf and from which said draft-bar issuspended at its middle, a computing-beam above the shelf and provided with Value and price bars with indieating slide-blocks thereon, the slide-block on the price-bar being coupled with that of the horizontal draft-bar, and a tare-beam above the computing-beam and coupled with the counterbalancing-beam.

4. In platform computing-scales, the combination with the shelf and its supportingpillars at the ends thereof, of a horizontal draft-bar extending between said pillars and carrying a sliding block, a connterbalancebeam fulcrumed beneath the shelf and from which said draft-bar :is suspended free to rise and fall vertically with the motion of said beam, a computing-beam fulcrumed above the shelf and provided with value and price bars carrying sliding blocks thereon the sliding block of the price-bar being coupled with that of the horizontal draft-bar, and a tarebeam fulcrumed above the computing-beam and carrying a sliding block, said tare-beam being connected with the counterbalancingbeam through a coupling-rod and adapted for weighing independently of the computingbeam and counterbalance-beam within the capacity of its sliding block.

5. In platform computing-scales, the combination with the computing-beam having a price-bar provided with notches upon its upper edge, of a sliding block thereon composed of an exterior portion, an interior portion IOC IIO

slidingly held in vertical guide-bearings of the exterior portion and provided with teeth for engagement with the notches of the pricebar, springs interposed between the two portions, and a steady-rod secured to the computing-beam above the notches in parallel relation thereto, the exterior portion of the sliding block being supported from said guiderod free to slide thereon.

6. In platform computing-scales, the combination with the computing-beam having a price-bar provided with notches upon its upper edge, of a sliding block thereon composed of an exterior portion consisting of a skeleton frame and metal plates secured thereto and forming a housing, an interior portion vertically guided therein in guide-bearings formed by the skeleton frame and adapted to engage with the price-notches on the price-bar,

springs interposed between said exterior and interior portion and adapted to hold said interior portion in engagement with the pricebar, a steady-rod secured to the computingbeam above the price-notches and upwardlyprojecting ears on the exterior portion of the sliding block engaging with said steady-rod to hold the same suspended in sliding engagement therewith, the interior portion embracing the sides of the price-bar to guide the sliding block in its movement along the pricebar.

'7. In platform computing-scales, the combination of a horizontal draft-bar, a sliding block thereon, a counterbalancing beam above said draft-bar from which said draft-bar is suspended, a computing-beam above said counterbalancing-bea'm and provided with a notched price-bar, a sliding block thereon composed of two parts one adapted to slide freely on the price-bar and held against vertical movement thereon and the other adapted to normally engage with the notches on the price-bar and having a limited vertical play thereon in vertical bearings formed between the two parts, a coupling connecting the lastnamed part with the sliding block on the draftbar, an eccentric supported upon the frame of the'scale and adapted to be manually operated and a rest projecting into the path of the counterbalancing-beam and adapted to be raised and lowered bythe movement of the eccentric'.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature l in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN HOGARTH MILBURN. Witnesses:

OTTO F. BARTHEL, JOSEPH A. NOELKE. 

